Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has been drummed up as a candidate for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award this year after winning both the Champions League and the Euro 2020 tournament. In a recent interview granted, Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola said he won't be surprised if Jorginho is named the recipient of the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award at the end of the year.
Zola expects him to challenge the likes of Barcelona great Lionel Messi and others for the award. Also, Chelsea fans worldwide feel the Italian international deserves the award having clamoured for Frenchman N'GoloKante shortly after the club won the Champions League in the summer but an unimpressive Euro 2020 tournament for the France national team has seen Jorginhosurpass Kante for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award in the eyes of the Chelsea fans.
The comments from Zola and the wishes of numerous Chelsea fans have led to the question on whether Jorginho deserves it or if he's even a contender for the award to start with.
At the start of last season, Jorginho was not always guaranteed a regular place in the starting XI under Frank Lampard due to the presence of both Kante and Croatian international Mateo Kovacic. The hamstring injury to Kovacic in the final weeks of last season ensured that he was a regular in the Chelsea team that won the Champions League title though Kante was the star of the show.
Kante was named the man-of-the-match in both semi-finals against Real Madrid and in the final against Manchester City thus becoming the first man to achieve the feat.
At the Euro 2020 tournament, Jorginho was a key player for Italy who went all the way to win the European Championship. He made the most interceptions at the tournament ahead of second-placed Kante who was dumped with France at the last 16 stage, while only Manchester City defender AymericLaporte made more successful forward passes at the tournament.
Without a shadow of doubt, playing a big part in the Euro 2020 title win has boosted his chances of being a top three contender for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award but whether he can win it is a different thing entirely.
